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"FREE LOVE" COUPLE SAY THEIR LIFE HAS
BEEN ONE CONTINUAL HONEYMOON
Los Angeles, Cal., Aug. 27. Can a
marriage agreement made along
lines contrary to all accepted and
revered convictions result in a happy
union? Carleton Washburn and his wife,
"who will celebrate their first wedding
anniversary Sept. 15, 1913, say it can.
Eleven months ago Carleton Wash
burn of Pasadena, Cal., and Heluitz
Chandler of Philadelphia were mar
ried in that city after signing a mar
riage contract, the terms of which
bound them only so long as each was
attached to the other by love. Esther
discovering that a mistake had been
made; or finding a greater love, was
free to follow the dictates of con
science and the other must neces
sarily abide by the result
Each was to earn money except
when the wife should be incapacitat
ed by the duties incident to child
bearing or rearing, Carleton being
protected by a clause absolving him
from any duty to maintain the wife
or child should another man be the
father.
The attitude of compulsory obliga
tion in the present marriage contract
which this couple maintain militates
against harmony and love, was the
reason for this unique marriage.
The ministry rose in a chorus of
protest. Friends of the families
turned shocked faces away but the
young people stuck to their contract,
despite all this.
Now, after nearly a year's trial the
couple are fully convinced of the wis
dom of their course.
"Our marriage has been one con
tinual honeymoon," said Mrs. Wash
burn. "The principles set forth in our
marriage contract are responsible
for our happiness," asserted young
Washburn. "Love cannot be fettered
by the mockery of custom, code or
creed.
" 'Freedom of choice,' is the only
answer to the divorce problem; free-